Troubled Souls, Honest Prayers 诚心祷告
Dexu Xia
Father, glorify your name! John 12:28
Three days before a bomb blast rocked his home in January 1957, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had an encounter that marked him for the rest of his life. After receiving a threatening phone call, King found himself pondering an exit strategy from the civil rights movement. Then prayers emerged from his soul. “I am here taking a stand for what I believe is right. But now I am afraid. I have nothing left. I’ve come to the point where I can't face it alone.” After his prayer, there came quiet assurance. King noted, “Almost at once my fears began to go. My uncertainty disappeared. I was ready to face anything.”
In John 12, Jesus acknowledged, “My soul is troubled” (v. 27). He was transparently honest about His internal disposition; still He was God-centered in His prayer. “Father, glorify your name!” (v. 28). Jesus’ prayer was one of surrender to God’s will.
How human it is for us to feel the pangs of fear and discomfort when we find ourselves with the option of honoring God or not; when wisdom requires making hard decisions about relationships, habits, or other patterns (good or bad). No matter what we’re faced with, as we pray boldly to God, He’ll give us the strength to overcome our fear and discomfort and do what brings glory to Him—for our good and the good of others.
By: Arthur Jackson
What experiences have prompted prayers for God to be honored? What advice would you give to others facing such situations?
Father, please help me to face challenging things honestly and prayerfully that are for my good and will bring You glory.
父啊，愿祢荣耀祢的名。—约翰福音12章28节
在1957年1月，马丁·路德·金恩博士（Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.）的住家遭到炸弹攻击，在事故发生的三天前，他经历了影响他一生的事。当时，金恩接到一通恐吓电话，使他开始思索退出民权运动的策略。然后，他从内心深处发出这样的祷告：“我一直为了我所相信的真理而奋战，但是现在我感到害怕。我已经身心俱疲，来到无法独自面对的地步。”祷告之后，他的心平静安稳。金恩指出：“我的恐惧几乎立刻就消失了，我的紧张与不安也不见了。我已经准备好面对任何事了。”
在约翰福音12章，耶稣承认“我现在心里烦乱”（27节，新译本）。耶稣坦诚地表达自己内心的状态，然而在祷告中，祂仍让天父居首位，正如祂说：“父啊，愿祢荣耀祢的名”（28节）。耶稣的祷告表明祂愿意降服于上帝的旨意。
当我们需要选择是否要荣耀上帝，或是需要在人际关系、习惯等其他无论好坏的情况中，以智慧做出艰难的决定时，我们都会感到非常害怕与烦乱，这就是人的软弱。但不论我们面对什么难题，当我们大胆地向上帝祷告，祂会赐给我们力量，使我们能克服恐惧与忧愁，去做一切能使上帝得荣耀的事，让我们和他人同得益处。
作者： 简恩德
有哪些经历促使你祷告祈求上帝能得荣耀？对于面临同样处境的人，你会给他们什么建议？
天父，帮助我以诚实和祷告的心来面对挑战，使我得益处并使祢得尊荣。